The county employee allegedly targeted by a threatening phone call Oct. 23 was Human Resources Director Norma Jean Brown, who in recent days has brought to light concerns about possible racial and gender discrimination in the county government.

“Norma Jean called me Monday,” said Sheriff Jud Smith. “She said she had received a phone call that she thought was threatening in nature on her voice mail."

Smith said he did not personally listen to the message, but a deputy dispatched to Brown's office said the audio message was not of a person’s voice but was a message created from the sound track of a television commercial or other type of broadcast.

The call was left on Brown's office voice mail at the Barrow County annex building at about 12:46 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. Unaware of the message, Brown began meeting privately with individual commissioners on Saturday, Oct. 24.

She didn't hear the phone message – that allegedly threatened her safety and that of her family – until Monday, Oct. 26.

According to Jim Fullington, special agent in charge of the GBI’s Athens office, the sheriff's office officially requested GBI assistance the following day.

“Our office has been requested by the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office to look into an investigation of a possible terroristic threat against a Barrow County employee,” Fullington said.

The sheriff said he asked for GBI assistance because of the politics involved in the situation.

“I didn’t want to give a reason for someone to say I was upset about the budget and had a chance to go after somebody,” Smith said. “I felt like the independent source of the GBI would be better investigating this alleged threat.”

On the same day that the sheriff contacted the GBI about the threatening phone call, the Barrow County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to hire a private investigator to look into Brown's allegations of discrimination. Brown also disclosed that night to a reporter that she had retained an Atlanta lawyer who specializes in employment law.

Brown’s attorney, Cheryl Legare of Buckley & Klein LLP, said the allegations involve gender and race discrimination as well as wage-hour violations. A formal complaint is expected to be filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by next week.

County Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood said he agreed with Smith’s decision to request assistance from the GBI but added that he did not really know anything about the terroristic threats situation.

“I understand there was a threatening phone call made, and I have not heard the details at all,” he said. “But I asked the commissioners to not let it go.”

Yearwood said, if necessary, he would support bringing in both the GBI and FBI.

“I want to know who generated it and where it came from,” he said.

“If allegations are being made and it was done on a federal level as far as a phone call, I think we should get to the bottom of it. We need to know where it came from and, if possible, who did it. I hope we can find that out.”

this is going to cost the county. where are yall gettin the money to support such stupidity? get HER OUT NOW DANNY. she is 4 split personality and this will never end until she's gone. I can't pay my taxes now, and for some pysco to cost me money. Get for real BOC, come on, she is the intimadator. look what she done to Garrison. Danny you get her out of there now and the county will be @ peace. she is the one who antiginizes empolyeees. they have no one to lean on at all.If she believes in GOD then I don't know if I want ot or not!

I thought this was the United State Of America. At what point would a person threaten to say the least terrorize another. It is only when some is trying to intimadte another. It has as always been my experience that some one is tring to get their way by any means they can. To mary beth, who in the world are you talking about? Your comments sound like some one not with issues.When will the people of this county wake up and see their are problems in our beloved county. Is there a blind spot in which we are willing to over look. Doug Garrison was not the type of person this county needed. I'm sure that Danny is not if what is being said is happening in our annex building. I hope that the commissioner's would make sure that this is not city or county for this type of behavior. I would be sad to know that in this day and time that we would allow negitave stupid behavior to live on in the 21th centry.

Douglas, did you proof read that rambling, incoherent diatribe before you posted it? Try using a word processor next time. There are a host of misspellings in your response. Your response made about as much sense as Mary Beth's.

At any rate, Georgia law defines Terroristic Threats and Acts in OCGA 16-11-37. Basically, a person commits the offense of a terroristic threat whenhe or she threatens to commit any crime of violence. Yes, this is the United States of America. No you can't threaten another person, either by verbal threats or by actions.

Norma Jean is super connected not just politically. She will come out of it with no damage done she always does. I am not saying she is a model of professionalism in her postition but she is there to stay, you can bank on that

Our county government wasted plenty of OUR money on fighting the Ten Commandments lawsuit in self-serving fashion so why would it surprise anyone that they'd look to spend more of OUR money on lawyers?

I think they should have our wonderful sheriff Judd Smith go over, lock up the whole commission staff for one weekend with some of the counties finest hard criminals and they'll realize truly what a terroristic threat is..When you use your position of power to cover up your true feelings of raceism it puts a black eye on that person and the rest of the county government..Lets worry about the issues that are going to get this county back on the right track and help our citizens..

Mr. Chairman, do Barrow County a HUGE favor and resign. We cannot afford you any longer. You grew up in this county and if you have an ounce of loyalty....step down.

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